Shocking sophistry Masterclass in arrogance (Ph)allacies abound.
An original haiku to commemorate my inability to complete this irritating tome. I had Shocking sophistry Masterclass in arrogance (Ph)allacies abound.
An original haiku to commemorate my inability to complete this irritating tome. I had earnestly embarked on the promised 'crash course in civilization' as advised by J.M.Coetzee, or as 'Notes in the margin of my time' as my second edition offers, not 'Necessary Memories....' together with the same lightbulb picture. I had known Clive James as a TV & media pundit, lugubrious celebrator of the weird & wonderful, and master of the witty putdown. So, I was interested in his thoughts on an encyclopedic array of cultural icons of the 20th century. But no, there are interlopers from both before and after; weirdly, the majority of the references stem from the early third of the century and are skewed particularly to a specific part of Western Europe, namely, Austria.The other lack of balance is more defined, related to gender with fewer than 10% female.
However, having stated this, the idea of utilising certain personalities is actually a false illusion as to what the vignette is about: a scatter gun approach that is rarely illuminating about said individual, more reflective of the writer's modus operandi of confusion and chaos to progress his digressive account. Several philosophers appear but their remit is so illogical as to the reference point that their ideologies disappear in a smog of erudite speciosity.
Whilst there are, undoubtedly, some gems among the dross, the fallacies of illicit transference are so commonplace to make me plot this book's demise within a week of commencement! I struggled through it to conquer a third all told. But, as other reviewers indicate, it's like 'Marmite', you'll either love it, or hate it...
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